Press Releases

Today, the House of Representatives approved a Senate amendment to H.R. 1059, a bill authored by House Judiciary Committee Ranking Member John Conyers, Jr. (D-Mich.).  H.R. 1059, as amended, extends by six years the authority of the Judicial Conference of the United States to redact personal and sensitive information from financial disclosure reports filed by judges and judicial branch employees, such as the filer's home address or spouse's workplace address.  Ranking Member Conyers released the following statement in response to the House's action:

"The requirement that judges and judicial branch employees disclose their personal finances promotes openness in the federal government, reduces the risk of corruption, and prevents the appearance of impropriety," Conyers said.  "Unfortunately, the required disclosures can also include critical information about the filer's residence, a spouse's workplace, a child's workplace, or a vacation home.  This information has the potential to place judges, judicial branch employees, and their families at risk."

“This risk is real.  For example, three federal judges have been murdered at their homes since 1979.  Additionally, a federal district judge’s husband and mother were murdered in the judge’s home back in 2005 by a disgruntled civil litigant.”

"My bill balances both ethics and safety concerns by extending the Judicial Conference of the United States’ authority to redact certain sensitive information from public financial disclosures by another six years.  Having been granted this authority previously on a renewable basis since 1998, the Judicial Conference has a proven track record of using this authority sparingly and only in instances where the information could endanger the life of the filer."

“While I would have preferred the original version of my bill, this redaction authority – without congressional action – will expire at the end of this year.  Therefore, I supported the 6-year extension and I am pleased that the full House did as well.  I look forward to the President signing this bill into law immediately.”

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